Welcome 
 
I hope you are ready to have a musical year filled with fun, teamwork, and new 
opportunities.​ ​We will explore lots of concepts in the vocal music room based 
on the National Standards of Music Education and their over arching concepts. 
A strong emphasis is placed on ​music literacy​ (reading & decoding melodic 
and rhythmic music notation). My goal is to help students be both independent 
and collaborative musicians so they will feel confident and have enough 
knowledge for music to remain a life-long skill.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mission Statement 
 
“Music Makes Connections” 
 
The mission in Nevada middle school vocal music is to use music as a tool to 
help students​ ​connect: with their peers, with the community, with other 
curriculums, with other cultures, with​ ​history, and with their own emotions. 
 
Choir Membership 
 
The vocal music department offers a variety of opportunities to meet the needs 
of students interested in singing. All groups are designed to teach self-discipline 
and commitment while working together toward a common goal of excellence 
and fostering an appreciation of​ ​choral music. Through maximum participation a 
student will: 
 
● Develop the ability to read music at sight 
 
● Develop a strong, appropriate singing tone quality 
 
● Develop self confidence on stage 
 
● Develop team skills 
 
● Experience a variety of choral literature 
 
● Develop an aesthetic appreciation of music 
 
 
Contact Mrs. Ott 
 
At any time during the year you may contact me to discuss your questions or 
concerns. 
 
● 515-382-2751    ext. 244 
 
● lott@nevadacubs.org 
 
● We utilize google classroom as an additional way to share information, 
complete assignments/reflections, and reminders about special events. 
Google classroom now has a parent function – please let me know if you 
wish to have access to our google classroom from the parent view. 
● I will use the “remind” app during ⅞ musical season to post announcements 
and reminders about rehearsal. 
● I also have a webpage with reminders on dates,​ ​rehearsal schedules, 
assignments, and links to music/video examples for 
students: ​http://musicmrsott.weebly.com 
 
CELL PHONE POLICY​ –  
Cell phones are not needed in choir rehearsal during the school day. Any cell 
phones that are out during rehearsal will be taken and remain with me until the 
rehearsal has finished. If this should be a repeat occurrence classroom 
consequences will be followed. There may be times during after school 
practices or evening performances that students may bring their cell phones to 
communicate about when the practice/performance has ended. It is expected 
that during rehearsal/performance, team building, or instructional time that 
phones be put away, turned off, and not a distraction.  
 
 
 
 
 “Excellence is not an act but a habit” 
 
Daily Rehearsal 
We strive to build a strong team through the process of collaboration, helping 
each other, 100% participation, student engagement, and team building. Each 
member of our choir team is important and needs to be active and involved 
during each rehearsal. Building the knowledge and skill of each individual also 
impacts what they can contribute to the team. During choir rehearsal we will use 
many strategies to develop our team skills and singing sound including: 
assigned learning partners, cori spezzati groups, team building activities, large 
motor skill development, choral warm ups, sight reading practice, ear training, 
student leadership, and choral literature performance. Mistakes are welcome. 
Students are not expected to be “perfect” but they are expected to give their 
best effort. 
 
Required Performances 
As part of this team students are expected to attend all performances. 
Performances are the ​culminating assessment​ following weeks of preparation 
and growth as a​ ​team. Excused absences must be​ ​received in writing (email or 
note) at least seven calendar days before the performance;​ ​preferably earlier so 
there is time to cover any individual parts an absent student was assigned. 
Unplanned situations such as student illness or a death in the family will be 
excused​ ​absences. 
While there is no replacement assessment of live performance with the team; 
students with excused performance absences will be required to complete an 
alternative​ ​assessment used in place of their performance assessment grade. 
 
Unexcused absences are absences from a performance that are not excused by 
the director in​ ​advance. Unexcused absences not only hurt the individual 
student but also let down the entire​ ​musical team. In a vocal music ensemble 
each student’s sound is very important. A student with​ ​an unexcused 
performance absence will be given a zero for that performance grade. 
 
TENTATIVE ​ - ​Schedule of Performances 2018-2019     
and times to be determined and dates subject to change with notice 
 
October 25​th​ – MS Choir Clinic (closed session during school) 
 
November 12​th​ -  7-8 Vocal Concert in Tope Auditorium 
 
November - small group performing at IMEA conference in Ames 
 
December - music sharing with elementary and retirement communities 
 
December 20​th​ - Fine Arts performance for the student body 
 
April 4​th​ and April 5​th​ - 7/8 Musical  (Thursday 7 pm, Friday 7 pm) 
 
May 16​th​ - 7-12 combined Spring Concert 7 pm 
 
Performance and Concert Etiquette 
 
1. Please stay in your seat 
2. If you must leave the concert wait until the song is finished and quietly exit in
between​ ​songs … wait to hear applause and quickly reenter​ ​the concert if
necessary 
3. Drink and snacks are not allowed in a concert performance 
4. Please be on time 
5. Refrain from talking during the performance 
6. If a young child begins to cry or make loud noise the child and accompanying
parent are​ ​allowed to leave the performance in the middle of a piece 
7. Turn cell phones and pagers to silent 
8. It is polite to stay for the entire performance to acknowledge all participants 
 
Performance Dress Code 
A unified appearance helps create a unified team and unified sound. School 
dress code needs to​ ​be followed. The director will determine appropriate 
concert attire. 
 
Performance Dress Code may include: 
 
● Cubs Choir polo (provided by music parents) and BLACK pants, skirt, socks, 
shoes  
Polos will be worn for performances in October, November, and May 
 
I would be happy to help any student in need locate black concert 
clothes to borrow. Please let me know a week before the performance if 
assistance is needed 
 
● designated costumes - 7/8 musical  
 
Extra Opportunities 
There will be extra opportunities for students to participate in that are not 
required. OPUS honor choir auditions occur during August/September. 
Rehearsals for 7/8 students occur during the school day and cub pride time. 
Auditioning for OPUS does not conflict with after school sports practices. 
Students may be invited to participate in an honor choir experience in December 
or March based on their leadership, vocal tone, and music literacy skills. 
 
All students in chorus are automatically in the group songs during the 7/8 
musical and will be on stage during at least one performance. Students may 
choose to audition for an additional lead or supporting character role, for 
individual speaking/acting/singing opportunities. 
 
**Students are expected to follow the school code of conduct at all times; in the 
classroom and​ ​while representing Nevada Schools away from the classroom. 
 
Technology 
Students will not need to bring their chromebook to chorus every day. The 
majority of class is focused on creating music and listening/evaluating live. 
There will be a few designated days that students may be asked to complete a 
task with their chromebook. Example: sectional rehearsal – one section works 
on notes and rhythms with me while the other section completes an online ear 
training, performance evaluation, or solfege practice task and then sections 
switch. I will tell students in advance if they need to bring their chromebook to 
chorus.  
 
This year we will be utilizing Sight Reading Factory that has already been 
purchased for students by the school district. This will help students make more 
consistent progress and growth at music literacy. 
www.sightreadingfactory.com 
 
We will also use google classroom (accessed on chromebooks) often to share 
information with chorus students and to turn in digital assignments. Their 
chromebook may be used to practice composition, write a reflection, blog 
during a live video, or to record a singing sample for individual assessment. 
***Students are reminded that the middle school technology policy and digital 
citizenship need to be followed even in chorus. Be cautious when using social 
media that our musical team and participants are supported in a positive way. 
 
Lessons 
Lesson times are based on individual students needs and are often in a small 
group of peers as assigned by the teacher. Lessons are used to​ ​provide music 
instruction specific to the needs of the individual and to assess that the skills 
practiced during choir are being learned correctly. The student will be provided 
with a lesson​ ​schedule; however it is the student’s responsibility to remember to 
come to the vocal room for​ ​their lesson. Students will be pulled out of class for 
12 to 20​ ​minutes to complete their lesson with the understanding that students 
should never leave a class if an assessment is being given. In the event that a 
student cannot be pulled out of class during the school day, a lesson can be 
scheduled before or after school at the flexibility of the teacher’s schedule. 
There will be an opportunity available at the end of each lesson rotation for 
make up lessons if students are unable​ ​to leave class on their designated lesson 
date. 
 
 
 
 
 
Grading 
 
 
​Citizenship/Daily Skill Development 35% - 40% 
 
● participation and on task​ ​in all activities 
 
● respect to peers, teacher, and materials 
 
● prepared with materials and in the correct spot at the beginning of class 
 
● correct posture 
 
● ​use of solfege hand signs 
 
● listening and following directions 
 
● positive and ready to work attitude 
 
 
​Performances 35% - 40% 
 
● present and on time 
 
● wearing teacher designated concert attire 
 
● quiet and respectful 
 
● focused on making a positive contribution to the team 
   
Checkpoints 20-30% 
● Students will need to complete the designated number of checkpoints for 
each quarter. This is an opportunity for students to meet the assessment 
requirements but also to develop strategies and tools to share their learning in 
the way they feel they learn the best. Each quarter at least ​one lesson 
checkpoint​ and one standards based grading ​music literacy checkpoint​ is 
required. Students may complete two or more of the same checkpoint (such as 
multiple sight reading factory assignments). Students will need to be conscious 
of checkpoint deadlines posted throughout the quarter to stay “on pace”. All 
check points will need to be completed/turned in at least one week prior to the 
end of the grading period to be assessed. 
 
● Small group lesson – 1 required per quarter 
 
● Sight Reading Factory accuracy assessment – 1 required per quarter 
 
● Additional group lesson 
 
● Sight Reading Factory additional practice “assignment” 
 
● Student leader during daily vocal solfege warm up (teaching videos will 
be available) 
 
● Concert Attendance and Reflection – a six sentence reflection after 
watching a performance. Information analyzing performance factors, 
dynamic/tempo/articulation/genre of the music need to be included. 
Professionalism and concert etiquette of the performers should also be 
addressed. This reflection is not limited to Nevada or school events. A 
concert program and/or picture verification must accompany this task. 
 
● General Music mentorship – may only be completed during a student 
study hall, lunch recess, or seminar time. Arrangements need to be made 
with Mrs. Ott ​in advance​. Students may be asked to work with a general 
music student one on one or sing with a general music class as support 
during rehearsal. 
 
● My song project analysis – task and presentation options can be shared 
with interested students. This checkpoint can be completed through 
written, oral, or visual information sharing. 
 
● Cultural or Historical music analysis – similar task and options as “my 
song project” with music that has a historical or cultural learning focus. 
 
● Original composition using music notation software. 16 measure 
minimum. Noteflight software recommended 
 
● Selected participation and preparation for an honor choir or choral festival 
 
● Individual created ideas, must be discussed and approved with Mrs. Ott 
prior to the second 3 week grade check 
 
● Audition, selected, practice, and memorization for a solo role in the 
musical 
 
 
Vocal Music is making the shift towards grading based on the standards of 
music education. The goal is to assess and track students’ knowledge so all 
students make personal progress. A grade level expectation is set based on 
preliminary ability testing and national music education standards. The Nevada 
music department is investigating the best methods in standards based grading 
for music K-12. I am in the process of looking at models and systems from other 
districts to determine the best and most feasible design for Nevada middle 
school music students. The goal is to continue in encouraging students to 
participate and enjoy making music collectively while also refining each 
individual’s music skills to be a competent, knowledgeable member of the 
musical team. 
 
When sufficient data has been collected students’ proficiency may be reported 
out via the gradebook in power school. 
 
 
 
 
SAMPLE 
Musical Standards – Music Literacy Progress at Grade Level 
Expectation (GLE) 
● Sight reading melody – decoding notes, maintaining “do” 
● Rhythm – steady beat keeping, decoding notation 
● Evaluate – listening and accurately describing music 
● Connect 

** The transition towards standards based grading is a work in 

progress. Students’ grades regarding participation with the 
choral ensemble, citizenship, performance etiquette will be shifted towards the 
Standards Based Grading model. 
 
** Please remember in SBG a score of 3 is proficient​. A 3 is good and should 
be celebrated. ​4 will be used though it is more rare. The majority of students 
will be at the 2 level as they work towards advancing their skill towards grade 
level expectation. Students and parents should feel comfortable with level 3 
proficient. 
 
**Unfulfilled Expectations will be reflected in the student’s grade and may result 
in being​ ​reassigned to a different role, responsibility, or class at the discretion of 
the teacher. 
 
 
 
 
 
******************************************************************************************** 
 
I have read and understand the Nevada Middle School Vocal Music Handbook 
and the School​ ​Code of Conduct. 
 
I understand that not following these guidelines may affect my participation in 
this activity. 
 
Student Signature 
 
_________________________________________________ Date _________ 
 
I have read and understand the Nevada Middle School Vocal Music Handbook 
and the School​ ​Code of Conduct. 
 
I will help my student follow the guidelines to the best of my ability. 
 
I understand that students receive a letter grade for this class and that their 
participation and​ ​attendance will be reflected on their report card. 
 
Parent/Guardian Signature 
 
_________________________________________________Date __________